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Cobourne ran for two touchdowns, including a key two-yard scamper, to power the Montreal Alouettes to a compelling 21-18 win over Saskatchewan in the 98th Grey Cup on Sunday.

Cobourne helped Montreal to a second straight Grey Cup win over Saskatchewan following last year's stunning victory. In the 2009 final, Damon Duval missed from 43 yards out on the final play, only to get a second chance after the Riders were called for too many men on the field.

Duval then hit from 33 yards out to give Montreal the 28-27 win.

Montreal earned its third Grey Cup win in eight appearances since 2000.

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Montreal receiver Jamel Richardson was named the game MVP while Saskatchewan defensive lineman Keith Shologan was the top Canadian.

But once again with Commonwealth Stadium again a sea of Roughriders green, the Riders stayed in the game due to a Duval miss. With Montreal up 21-18, Duval couldn't connect from 41 yards out.

Saskatchewan returned the ball to the Alouettes 16-yard line with roughly a minute and a half remaining, giving the sellout gathering of 63,317, a Edmonton Grey Cup record, a wild finish.

Saskatchewan pulled to within 21-18 on Darian Durant's one-yard TD pass to Marc Parenteau at 11:52 of the fourth. It was set up by a 31-yard reception by Andy Fantuz to put the Riders on the Alouettes' one-yard line.

Montreal countered by driving to the Saskatchewan 33-yard line, only to have Duval miss and give the Riders another chance. But there would be no comeback victory as Billy Parker intercepted Durant's desperate toss at the Saskatchewan 37-yard line with under 56 seconds remaining.

It was the only turnover of the game.

“Our defence played so well today,” Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo told TSN. “We worked so hard. We kept working and working and keep fighting and it pays off. “

“Saskatchewan is an awesome team, we knew it was going to be tight.”

Richardson, who put up more than 100 yards for the second straight Grey Cup, was the first receiver to win the MVP award since Edmonton's Jason Tucker in 2003.

“My teammates believed in me and they kept calling my number, and I won't let them down,” Richardson told TSN.

The close affair followed the regular-season script for these two teams. They split their series 1-1, with Saskatchewan winning a thrilling overtime 54-51 contest July 1 before Montreal took a 30-26 decision in August.

But on Sunday, it was the defences that took centre stage, especially Montreal's, which forced Saskatchewan at one point to punt on eight straight possessions.

“We didn't play good Alouettes football,” Montreal receiver Ben Cahoon told TSN. “We struggled at times and our kicking game struggled. It shouldn't have been close.”

Montreal, which despite posting the CFL's second-best record (12-6) was just a 3 ½ favourite over the Riders (10-8, second in West Division).

The Alouettes were making their third straight Grey Cup appearance under head coach Marc Trestman, who became the first consecutive Grey Cup winner since Don Matthews of Toronto (1996-'97).

Saskatchewan was in the title game for the third time since 2007.

Duval, who also missed from 31 yards out in the first half, connected from 43 yards out just 1:37 into the fourth to give the Alouettes a 14-11 lead.

Following an entertaining half-time performance by Bachman & Turner, Montreal took its opening march of the second half 83 yards on 14 plays — including a successful fake punt — with Duval's 22-yard field goal at 9:26 making it 11-11.

Duval finished with two converts, a single and two field goals.

Wes Cates had Saskatchewan's touchdown. Warren Kean booted the convert and field goal while Eddie Johnston added a single.

It was an errant Duval boot that allowed Saskatchewan to rally for an 11-8 half-time lead.

Following Duval's single off a missed 31-yard field goal, Cates pulled Saskatchewan to within 8-7 on the final play of the first quarter. It capped a smart eight-play, 75-yard march before the resurgent Riders went ahead 10-8 on Kean's 27-yard field goal at 3:10 of the second.

Johnston's 53-yard single with a minute remaining gave Saskatchewan its three-point lead. It came moments after the Riders dodged a huge bullet when Montreal's Richard Estelle stepped in front of a Durant pass in the flats and had a clear path to the end zone but dropped the sure pick-six to preserve the West Division champion's two-point lead.

Cobourne opened the scoring with a three-yard TD run at 5:39 of the first. The four-play, 38-yard scoring drive was set up by a 15-yard no yards penalty against Saskatchewan that gave Montreal the ball deep in the Riders' territory. But it was Trestman's decision to punt on third-and-one that pinned the West Division champion on its 14-yard line.

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